Business Leadership Summit 2025 Details

Hosted at Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago O’Hare Rosemont
at 5500 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL

Only 1.7 miles from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) with a free shuttle to/from ORD!

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 10

5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sponsor Showcase + Meet & Greet Reception

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Welcome & Coffee

9:00 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Summit Sessions

12:10 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)

12:30 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. Sponsor Showcase

2:20 p.m. – 5:40 p.m. Summit Sessions

5:45 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sponsor Showcase + Happy Hour

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 12

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Sponsor Showcase

9:00 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Summit Sessions 

12:10 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch (provided)  

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Sponsor Showcase

1:40 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Summit Sessions 

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Happy Hour

VIEW SESSION DETAILS

Location

Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago O’Hare Rosemont is located at 5500 N River Rd, Rosemont, IL, which is only 1.7 miles from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and offers a free shuttle to/from ORD! 

We suggest staying at right the Embassy Suites. Use the link to book your room(s) in our block of discounted rooms.

Sponsor Showcase

New This Year: Sponsor Showcase!

For the first time, we’re having a Sponsor Showcase. This is a unique opportunity for Summit attendees to engage with our sponsors and network in business suites located along the 2nd-floor atrium during dedicated Sponsor Showcase times each day of the Summit.

Food and Drinks

Coffee, water, and lunch will be provided Thursday and Friday.*

*Added perks of staying at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago O’Hare Rosemont: Complimentary breakfast is included with your stay, plus a happy hour with two free drinks along with camaraderie and networking!

2025 Summit Schedule and Session Details

NOTE: There is only one session track for the Summit, so you don't have to choose between sessions/speakers!

CLICK ON A DAY TO EXPAND AND VIEW DETAILED SCHEDULE

5:30 PM–8:00 PM: Sponsor Showcase & Happy Hour (6:00–7:30 PM) Meet & Greet Reception in the Atrium​

8:30 AM–9:00 AM: Welcome & Coffee (30 minutes)
9:00 AM–10:00 AM (1-hour session)

Session: Employee Retention & Engagement

Speakers: Rob Van Craenenbroeck & Eve Molzhon
You’ve got the new hire, how to you keep them and keep them engaged? Learn about employee retention and how to leverage peer to peer engagement. More info to come!
 

10:10 AM–12:10 PM (2-hour session)

Session: An All-Hazards Approach to Business Emergency Preparedness

Speaker: Madison Warner

Pet businesses face many potential emergencies from a pet injury, disease outbreak, natural disaster, technology failure and more. This session will break down actionable to-do steps you can take to help prevent, respond to, and recover from emergencies of all kinds. Learn the essentials to prepare your business for a broad spectrum of hazards, ensure your business continues to operate, and stay compliant with OSHA standards.
 

12:10 PM–1:00 PM: Lunch Provided in the Atrium

 

12:30 PM–2:10 PM: Sponsor Showcase in the Atrium

 

2:20 PM–3:20 PM (1-hour session)

Session: How to Properly Structure Your Business: Tax Efficiency and Asset Protection for the Small Business Owner

Speaker: Brian T. Boyd

More info to come!
 

3:20 PM–3:30 PM: Snack Provided (Outside Session Room)

 

3:30 PM–4:30 PM (1-hour session)

Session: Boosting Performance & Morale: Designing Effective Incentive Bonus Programs for Your Pet Business

Speaker: Kelli Dodds

This session is designed for pet business owners and managers who want to implement incentive bonus programs to drive employee performance and boost morale. We’ll explore the key elements of a successful incentive program, including aligning your business goals with your incentive program, creating a clear calculation system, and strategies for implementation.

  • Design a program that aligns with your specific business needs
  • Build a motivating incentive program that drives employee engagement/retention and business success, while also attracting high-quality candidates.

Attendees will develop a practical blueprint for their own incentive program, ready for implementation and further refinement to fit their business.


4:40 PM–5:40 PM (1-hour session; KEYNOTE)

KEYNOTE SESSION: Lead the Field: How to Be the Undisputed Pet Biz Champion in Your Community

Speaker: Dominic Hodgson

Want to be known, respected, and revered as the go-to pet care leader in your area? In this high-impact keynote, Dom will show you how to step into the spotlight and lead your business to legendary status. You’ll discover how to lead on price, lead your people, lead with service, and lead with innovation. This is your roadmap to standing out in a crowded market, attracting dream clients, and becoming the pet business everyone else tries (and fails) to copy.

5:45 PM–8:00 PM: Sponsor Showcase & Happy Hour (6:00–7:30 PM) in the Atrium

8:00 AM–9:00 AM: Sponsor Showcase in the Atrium (1 hour)

9:00 AM–10:00 AM (1-hour session)

Session: Info to come!

Speaker: Dominic Hodgson

Info to come!
 

10:10 AM–11:00 AM (1-hour session)

Session: Info to come!

Speaker: Max Goodman

Info to come!
 

11:10 AM–12:10 PM (1-hour session)

Session: Info to come!

Speaker: Sherry Acanfora-Ruohomaki

Info to come!
 

12:10 PM–1:00 PM: Lunch Provided in the Atrium

 

12:30 PM–1:30 PM: Sponsor Showcase in the Atrium

 

1:40 PM–2:40 PM (1-hour session)

Session: Info to come!

Speaker: Mark Klaiman

Info to come!
 

2:40 PM–2:50 PM: Snack Provided (Outside Session Room)

 

3:00 PM–5:00 PM (2-hour session)

Session: Info to come!

Speaker: Sean Felty

Info to come!
 

6:00 PM–7:30 PM: Happy Hour in the Atrium for Embassy Suites guests

*Schedule is subject to change without notice*

REGISTER NOW! $495/PERSON

Why Attend the Business Leadership Summit?

Ask yourself a few questions…

Dominic Hodgson, a.k.a. “The Pet Biz Wiz,” will teach you how to create an unforgettable customer experience using the time and resources you already have, so you can stand out in a crowded market.

Madison Warner, Founder and Lead Instructor of Ready Pet Education, will lead a session on emergency preparedness, ensuring you have a clear plan to protect your staff, clients, and pets when disaster strikes.

Sherry Acanfora-Ruohomaki, President and Owner of K9 Kampus and Facets Consulting Group, will introduce practical organizational tools and systems to help your team stay on track, improve productivity, and work more efficiently.

Eve Molzhon, Founder of Dog Handler Academy, and Rob Van Craenenbroeck, HR expert and Co-Founder of Culture@Work, will dive into employee retention and engagement, giving you strategies to motivate your team, reduce turnover, and create a workplace culture that employees love.

Brian T. Boyd, tax attorney and real estate investor, will explain the best business entity structures for reducing tax liabilities, helping you keep more of your profits in his session, “How To Properly Structure Your Business: Tax Efficiency and Asset Protection for the Small Business Owner.”

Sean Felty, Co-Owner of Greenlin Pet Resorts and Founder of Next Tree Strategies, will show you how to analyze and control labor costs, optimize scheduling, and increase productivity without burning out your team.

Kelli Dodds will walk you through the keys to incentive bonus programs that drive employee performance and boost morale, so you can develop a stronger team in your business.

What Do Last Year's Summit Attendees Say?

The DHA Business Leadership Summit isn’t just about ideas — it’s about action.

Kevin Casida attended the 2024 Summit and found it incredibly valuable. With a variety of speakers covering topics like marketing, HR, operations, and financials, he walked away with powerful insights — and, more importantly, actionable steps to implement in his facilities right away.

"I highly recommend that daycare owners attend the DHA 2025 Business Leadership Summit! I had the privilege of attending in 2024, and it was an incredible experience. Eve is truly exceptional—her expertise and sharp insights are unmatched. I have a great deal of respect for her. The guest speakers she selected were spot-on, and the topics covered provided valuable guidance for the industry. I was also thoroughly impressed by her team; they were top-notch. See you there in 2025!"
Dawna CaldwellOwner of Canine Corral Dog Daycare & Founder of Happy Tails to You Dog Training
"I attended the 2024 Business Leadership Summit with open eyes. There was lots of great information for me to note. It was my first conference and I really enjoyed it. The info sessions were full of info, some for me and some not but overall a great experience. I hope to attend again in 2025."
Tina SawyerCJ's Canine Country Club
"I attended the 2024 DHA Summit in its very first year. I wasn't sure what to expect and was concerned it might be a repeat of other industry conferences. I was wrong! The Summit was excellent, full of information and completely relevant to issues my small business is facing. I plan to add it to my list of "must attend" conferences for the year. The take home information and ability to rewatch the presentations was extremely helpful in keeping the momentum going once I returned home. This conference was worth the expense of bringing my manager and I plan to bring 2 team members this next year. I'm looking forward to what we will accomplish this next year."
Stacy DickinsonOwner of DogTown
"The Dog Handler Summit was such a great experience! I am in the process of launching my dog resort and this conference provided me with a wealth of knowledge on financials, daily operations, and tips/tricks for launching my business. Not only did I learn a lot, but I also met a bunch of great people (some of which turned into mentors and friendships). Whether you're new to this industry or trying to grow your existing business, I highly recommend this summit! I feel much more confident in taking the next steps in my business knowing that the Dog Handler team is always able and willing to help!"
Brittany WatsonStardog Resort

Ready to Register for the Summit?

Dog Handler Academy
Business Leadership Summit

SEptember 10–12, 2025
Chicago, il

$495

  • Admission for 1 to DHA Summit 2025
  • Lunch, coffee, and water provided Thursday & Friday
REGISTER NOW

Already registered and need to add another team member from your business? Register them here!

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